Mariano Rivera of the Yankees tips his cap to the crowd after being honored prior to the game against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night at Fenway Park in Boston.

Written by

Chad Jennings

Unveiling unique gifts, a video tribute and the Boston Cello Quartet playing a classical version of "Enter Sandman," the Red Sox honored Yankees closer Mariano Rivera with a lavish pregame ceremony on Sunday night.

Then they beat the Yankees so badly that Rivera never got in the game.

In what likely was Rivera's final trip to Fenway Park, the Yankees lost 9-2 to complete a three-game series sweep by the Red Sox and very nearly wipe out any chance of Rivera's advancing to the playoffs in his final season. ...